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His eyes snapped open, and he saw my grin, the corner of his lip lifting in that almost smile he does. Sharply, I withdrew my hand when he folded his wings up again, no sign of them on this back as if they never existed.
He lifted me under my knees and shoulders and cradled me against his chest, stepping on the broken pieces of the door as he left the apartment.
I sighed into his chest. “I knew you’d come for me.”
He chuckled, a deep rumbling against my ear. “Liar.”
EVIE
He carried me to my apartment. I didn’t argue about being carried but simply wrapped my arms around his neck and allowed it. There was strength in this, the submission in letting myself be cared for and protected. I can’t remember the last time someone had tried to protect me but nuzzling into his neck and feeling the deep rumble of his chuckle, it didn’t matter. Because I had Zaqiel now.
God, when had I turned into such a sap?
Zaqiel stopped abruptly, and I looked up. We weren’t quite at my building, and he was staring at a man trying to get in, one hand banging on the locked door and the other with his phone pressed to his ear.
I gasped, and Zaqiel pulled me closer to his chest.
“Who are you?” Zaqiel called, not even a hint of a smile on his face but the same dark, blank expression he had held for so long. Seemingly indifferent, but I knew now, absorbing everything that happened, he cared much more than he admitted.
The man looked up, relief flooding his face. I patted Zaqiel on the shoulder to let me down, but he simply pulled me closer to him, his large arms folding around me and keeping me close to him.
“Evie!” The man rushed toward us as fast as he could manage but stopped when Zaqiel took a step back, the darkness creeping across his face.
“It’s okay, Zaqiel. He’s a friend.”
He looked down at me and hesitated for a long moment before lowering me to the ground, grasping my elbow when I stumbled before keeping his arm protectively around my waist. Clive took my hands, and I swear I heard Zaqiel growl.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m so sorry I scared you, Clive. I forgot I had called.”
“You called him?”
Looking at Zaqiel as he spoke, I couldn’t help the lift of my lip as I almost laughed as possessive rage flashed across his face. “I had no one else to call, Zaqiel. I was alone and scared.” I turned back to Clive. “And drunk. I’m so sorry I wasted your time.”
He eyed my neck, no doubt taking in the blood before his eyes traced over the angry red marks on my arms and shoulders and the bruises that would be forming on my face. Self-consciously, I licked my lips and felt the dry blood with my tongue. I must look a mess.
“You didn’t waste my time. It looks like you needed help.” He glanced at Zaqiel, who didn’t relax even after the friendly smile Clive offered him. “But thank God this young man was here to save you.”
“Yes.” I grinned. “Thank God.”
Clive took my hands again. “I take it this means we won’t be seeing each other again?”
“I’m afraid not, but—”
“Evie,” Zaqiel interrupted me, his voice still stony. “Do you trust this man?”
I looked back at Clive, his eyes so full of kindness. “Yes, yes, I think I do.”
“Heidi,” he said simply.
I whirled around and asked, “You found her? Is she okay?”
His face looked pained, and I felt my heart drop in my chest. “Not exactly.”
I understood. He didn’t need to say anything further. “Where is she?”
“At my place.”
